Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao has promised that if his party returns to power in the next election, “We will dedicate Kanche Gachibowli to the people of Hyderabad creating the largest eco-park for future generations.”
Around 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli village near the University of Hyderabad is currently at the centre of major student protests. Students, faculty members, and citizens are opposing the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana Congress government’s proposal to auction the land off to IT companies, arguing that it is rich in biodiversity.
BRS leader KTR, who met the protesting students on March 31 and has expressed support for their cause, told the media on Thursday, April 3, “No construction or development will be allowed [in Kancha Gachibowli], preserving its natural beauty and ecological significance.”
“We will build a wonderful eco park similar to Central Park in Manhattan. It will be a gift to the students of the Central University as well as the citizens of Hyderabad,” KTR said.
“We are committed to protecting environment in the city of Hyderabad, in the state of Telangana,” he said, alleging that the Congress government in the state was working to expand real estate, while claiming that BRS was working for future generations.
He also warned people against buying the land even if the Congress government goes ahead with the auction, saying every inch of the land will be taken back if BRS returns to power. “We warn potential buyers to exercise caution, as our commitment to creating the largest eco-park is written in stone!” KTR said.
He said that the decision came from BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. “Our leader KCR garu expressed his unwavering intention and each and every member of the party wholeheartedly supported this wonderful decision. We WILL come to power and we WILL make this [Kancha Gachibowli land] into an eco-park,” KTR wrote on X.
Earlier on April 2, the Telangana High Court ordered the state government to halt the ongoing work on the 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli near the University of Hyderabad till April 3. While adjourning the hearing to April 3, the court directed the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) to stop all work.
The university students intensified their protests after the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) began its work to clear the land for its auction for the development of IT parks.